Rolex for 11yr son...?

[xgnxhj]

Folk here usually react negatively when the subject recipient is a 16-year-old son. I doubt you'll get much support for this.

[VinnieVegas]

I think that's a bit young. I know at that age I couldn't really appreciate or value it.

I bought my own after I was 40 and not only could I afford it, but I attached greater value to it. Unless it's a family heirloom, I think a new Rolex is better purchased by the owner during adulthood. But I'm old fashioned.

Good luck in any event!

[watchwatcher]

No. Just...no.

[1AP]

If money is no object then yeah, why not. If you're a normal person, get him a seiko or citizen and see what it looks like in a couple years.

[Nurv1717]

Bad idea IMO. Every parent has to make their own choices, but I think it sends the wrong message. A kid at that age can't possibly value or understand the hard work it takes to earn that kind of money.

As a kid I used to regret that all my friends got nicer shoes, toys, gaming systems than me and my dad is a doctor and made more than all of their parents. We got only what we earned. In retrospect it's the best lesson my parents could have ever taught me.

My dad flipped when I bought an $80 Fossil watch in High School even though it was all money I had earned working. God forbid he finds out how much my watches cost nowadays

[Johny]

wow. some strong opinions.

buy your son an explorer?

sure why not.

get him a birth year model.

I hope that he enjoys it.

[namussuz bilo]

I think rolex is the type of brand to mark an achievement in ones life. So therefore one should earn it.

[Rags]

Absolutely not, buy him a Seiko. They're great watches & you can get a nice one for under $200.00.

[cruise_bone]

Buying a Rolex for your 11 year old is not for him, it's for you.

Think about him. Do him a favor and wait until he is 16 or 18 to get him a watch.

[kunlun]

Hi Richard Lewis,

It's pretty simple.

Don't use children for your own pleasure.

Not too hard, right?
A little Kantian ethics on TRF.

[RICHARD_LEWIS]

Originally Posted by kunlun

Hi Richard Lewis,

It's pretty simple.

Don't use children for your own pleasure.

Not too hard, right?
A little Kantian ethics on TRF.

Which is, essentially, what I said.

Kantian ethics or no Kantian ethics, I - personally - think it's highly indulgent to spend thousand of £ (or $) on children to have what is to most of us a luxury item. The only expense of that magnitude should be education.

[AK797]

Maybe wait a couple of years and see if he is still into Rolex. If so buy one then but only let him wear it on special occasions, not every w/e, until you give it to him at 18.

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by Spartacus

Wait what. Not a blnr?

Worst dad ever. :(

[superdog]

You seem pretty put off when people don't give you the green light.

Why bother asking?

Just do what you want to do.

[mfnj]

For real

As long as you asked - NO, on so many levels. Hopefully you can see most of them!

[X JBM X]

My father is a watch guy. First "decent" watch I ever owned was a Titanium Citizen Eco Drive. I bought it with his help at probably 12 years old.

I like to think I take REALLY good care of my belongings. That said, I still own said Citizen. It most definitely needs to be serviced as it doesn't work currently, but it also looks like it's been through a few significant beatings.

If you must get him a Rolex, I'd suggest going for a 1500 or 1601... something in the 36mm size that doesn't have the same value and resale as an Explorer.

[sturgeon123456]

Why not?

Do whatever you want...its just an item. Many children nowadays have expensive laptops, desktops...an iPad and a cell phone along with other gadgets and toys that can add up to quite a large sum....who cares if a kid wears a Rolex, its just a watch.

[bigsmall]

Buy him a G-shock and let him earn his first Rolex on his own.

[Gasoil4ever]

Originally Posted by bigsmall

Buy him a G-shock and let him earn his first Rolex on his own.

It is your choice anyways but agree with the quoted point of view.

To me a Rolex is a symbol of hard work it has to be earned one way or the other.

[doubleinfive]

Sure, why not? He's age 11 for one year only...next thing you know he's 21. Get him a Rolex you both like but don't let him wear it. Buying him one and letting him wear it are two different things...

[landroverking]

Guys I thought about this since my post.

Really the only question should be SS or Gold. Lmao!

[enginerd]

My watchmaker received his first Rolex at 8 years old from his father. It got him hooked apparently, since he's been collecting for nearly 50 years now. Never too early if the passion is there, IMO.

[sirduncs]

I bought my son a watch for his 9th birthday. He chose it - a 5 Euro G Shock, orange, waterproof digital type thing from a market in Spain.

He loves that damned watch. He has his own watch...it looks cool (to a 9 year old) and it wouldn't even break a pygmy's bank if he broke it and it needed replacing - one week's pocket money.

I think something more expensive would generate envy from peers, and probably send a confusing message with regards to expensive items/earning/reward, and possibly a dangerous precedent. In fact, it could scar him for life if he fell in with the wrong crowd, got loads of grief over it, had it stolen, or spent all his time worrying about losing it or breaking it. Speculation perhaps but if he fell into that bad crowd in his teens, that watch would be easily parted for the next hit, and so on.

So no, I wouldn't, at this stage. What's wrong with 16 or 18 or 21? Milestone ages which would appear more appropriate.

[sutats]

It should be a matter of personal safety, not money.

[Psmith]

I remember that some of my school classmates had Rolex and Omega watches. Didn't seem like a big deal at the time, but then it was some time ago...
You know your son better than anyone, so do what you think is right. The Exp is a pretty understated watch ...but I would probably avoid something like this...

[CWIN]

I wouldn't for an 11 year old but you are the parent, do what you think is best.

[520lux]

What about an invicta watch.

they look like the rolex but waaaaaaay cheeper. This would allow him to actually take over the watch and see how he likes it.

food for thought

[texasKA]

No way in hell. What has he done to earn it?

[HogwldFLTR]

Frankly none here are able to advise you on your son and your ability to protect the watch. If you are able then that is great. I think you need to make your own call on this decision. Sounds like a nice son/dad adventure if you can pull it off.

[boost2perfection]

Get him a used SS with oyster bracelet